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Archive 2015 · Recommendations for a photography kayak?

tshore
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Recommendations for a photography kayak?

I am thinking of getting a kayak for wildlife photography. The idea would be to kayak around the sloughs in Marin, Tomales Bay and Richardson Bay. Fairly flat water. I'm 5'10, about 200 lbs. I would be likely be shooting a 7D with a 400 5.6 or 100-400. I don't want to spend a lot, since I don't know how I will really take to this. Also thinking that dull/camo colors would be better than bright colors. In particular I am looking at a Sun Dolphin Journey 10ss, which is a fishing kayak, but seems like it might be suited for picture taking too. I don't want to invest in a top-end kayak since I don't know for sure how I will take to this new activity. Anyone have any thoughts/experience on this? Features I should look/watch out for? Particular models? Thanks!

Dec 08, 2015 at 09:09 PM

surfnron
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Recommendations for a photography kayak?

I would suggest looking on craig's list. Since you are not sure if you will like it, a used yak will save you a bunch of $$ if you decide you don't like yakking. You may well change your mind over time about what you want in a yak too.

I'd look for a fairly large cockpit so that it's easy to handle your gear. A fairly wide yak would have some added stability, but might not have a lot of speed. I wouldn't worry too much about color is a used yak, but darker with a not too shiny finish wouldn't hurt.

When you see a yak on craig's list, google it for reviews

I hope this helps ~ Ron

Dec 09, 2015 at 08:58 AM

tshore
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Recommendations for a photography kayak?

Thanks, I'll check out CL.

Dec 09, 2015 at 11:07 AM

OregonSun
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Recommendations for a photography kayak?

I second CL. A few things to think about: Sit in will be drier than sit on top, your legs will get wet from water dripping off your paddle in a sit on top (I just wear rain pants if it's cold out). Sit on top will usually have more options for storage and will be easier to get in and out of. The longer and narrower a boat is, the faster it will be, but also the less initial stability it will have. See if there is anywhere in your area that rents kayaks so you can get a feel for different types. Don't skimp on your paddle, a decent quality paddle will make a lot of difference in your kayaking experience.

Heron

Dec 09, 2015 at 12:33 PM

frdjohns
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Recommendations for a photography kayak?

If you can find one used, a Native Ultimate is a good option. They are a hybrd, kind of half kayak, half canoe. Designed initially for fishing, they are very stable, and can carry a lot of weight while maintaining reasonable speed and maneuverability. I bought mine new which is pricey, but used might be ok.

I have seen folks stand in these, but I remain sitting. By the way, it has one of the best seats in the market, which is important considering you will usually be sitting for several hours.

http://nativewatercraft.com/product/ultimate-14-5-solo/

Dec 09, 2015 at 01:42 PM

elkhornsun
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Recommendations for a photography kayak?

I have photographed from a variety of watercraft and by far the best was an inflatable boat with a hard floor. It is by far the most stable platform for shooting and it can be propelled with oars, electric trolling motor, or a small outboard. The best for wildlife photography is the electric trolling motor as I could sit motionless.

With a kayak the movement of the paddles will startle birds at Elkhorn Slough that I frequent. The Hobie kayak with pedal motion is much better and I can put a mini-blind over my legs.

Best way to gain stability is with outrigger ama's like the ones sold by Hobie and which can be attached to most kayaks. They can be rotated up and out of the water while paddling to a location and then lowered down by rotating the shaft when you want the added stability.

In an open bay I would want a rudder as it makes it much easier to paddle when you can use both arms to paddle on both sides of the kayak even when there is a strong cross wind - which is occurring much of the time along the CA coast with prevailing winds from the west and northwest.

Dec 09, 2015 at 03:40 PM

lighthawk
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Recommendations for a photography kayak?

I've had good results with a Wilderness Pungo, which has a sit inside cockpit.
If you want dry gear, you do not want a sit on top. I went with Wilderness because the seats offer good support and are adjustable.

I use a small waterproof NF duffel with a padded insert from one of my Lowe camera backpacks.
The 7D + 400 fits perfectly. When the wind comes up and I get splashes over the bow, I can just zip the duffel shut and I'm basically splash-proof. I also zip up for take offs and landings if conditions aren't ideal.

Dec 09, 2015 at 04:00 PM

Tim Kuhn
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Recommendations for a photography kayak?

A LOT of us that shoot from kayaks have the Pungo mentioned above, I highly recommend it. I also second Ron with the CL suggestion. I use a rather flimsy dry bag I got years ago and that's it, no other special gear.

Tim

Dec 09, 2015 at 05:30 PM

OregonSun
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Recommendations for a photography kayak?

Paddle clips are a nice add on, they are easy to install and hold your paddle out of the way while you shoot. I use a Cotton Carrier to hold my 7D with 400 5.6 while I'm paddling, which allows almost instant access (it can be adjusted to fit over a life jacket). I put the attachment plate on the lens foot.

Heron

Dec 09, 2015 at 05:49 PM

juststeve
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Recommendations for a photography kayak?

I also have the Wilderness Systems Pungo. It is a good photo yak. Not the fastest kayak available but it is more stable than most. The Pungo can also take a rudder kit. For general kayaking a rudder is not highly useful, but for photography one can paddle up some momentum then glide and steer toward the subject without paddling. Paddling can be a distraction.

I have also thought about adapting the rudder to mount an electric trolling motor.

I believe a sit-inside yak will be more stable for photography purposes. Both my photo yaks are sit-insides. Your center of gravity is lower which makes for greater stability with a sit-inside. Make sure you are getting one with a wide enough cockpit. In slide film days, I was able to use a 400/2.8 sans lenshood out of my Eddyline Orca, but anything much longer gets very difficult to use.

Now I either use my old 300/2.8 with whatever extender is necessary or a 100-400. These I can use with the lenshood on and my front lens element stays much dryer.

Lastly, the suggestion of renting, even if it involves some travel, is a good one. How you move photographing in a kayak may make one better than another. How a seat fits you is important, because all your paddling force is transmitted to the kayak through the area of your lower back. And spend the money on a good paddle.

Dec 10, 2015 at 11:25 AM

PeeDeeDD
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Recommendations for a photography kayak?

frdjohns wrote:
If you can find one used, a Native Ultimate is a good option. They are a hybrd, kind of half kayak, half canoe. Designed initially for fishing, they are very stable, and can carry a lot of weight while maintaining reasonable speed and maneuverability. I bought mine new which is pricey, but used might be ok.

http://nativewatercraft.com/product/ultimate-14-5-solo/

^^^ I agree with all that has been said. I do a good bit of shooting from my kayaks and work with a major kayak retailer here in NC. The Native Ultimate or Ultimate FX are very stable boats...and will add that width of the boat and hull shape have a lot to do with stability. You really do need to try and get a longer boat...your weight and gear weight will push a 10' kayak's weight limit. I shoot from an FX15...I'm a big guy and need the extra capacity. I do like shooting from a sit in kayak but really like the openness of the Ultimate series. Another option is the Wilderness Systems Commander...it is also considered a 'hybrid'. It isn't as stable as the Ultimate IMHO but is still a good boat from a good reliable company.
The thing that makes stability so important isn't so much to keep you and your gear dry...well it really is...BUT...your whole perspective changes when you are looking through your camera. Suddenly everything is moving and you can over-react and make the boat tip and wiggle even more. I am very comfortable in about any kayak and was very happy with my sit-on-tops but noticed while shooting that they suddenly felt tippy when I was looking through the camera. A kayak where you sit down in it lowers your center of gravity...so a wider sit-in is much more stable than a SOT of the same width in most instances.
One thing that makes the hybrid sit-ins really likable is that you can load a bunch of gear in them and get to all of that gear without many issues. You can also set a tripod up inside them fairly easy...where an actual recreation type kayak with a deck can get in the way of a tripod. Water drips from your paddle are going to happen in all kayaks unless you have a spray deck or spray skirt on the boat...so I just wear rain gear like FrogTogs or something similar. The paddle drips will roll right off then.
Really think about stability when you start looking. I will suggest finding a boat that is at least 30" - 32" wide. Take the boat out several times and get used to the stability and moving around in it before venturing out with your camera. A bad first experience out will probably mean no second experience...so do yourself a favor and go for the stability factor first before considering a short unstable boat because of the price or how you are going to haul the boat. Those are important too...but...
And one last thing...Kayaks are much like name brand photography gear...they tend to hold their value fairly well...so if you do invest the $$ in one, especially a used boat, you can generally get close to the same $$ back out of it a couple of years later if you decide it isn't for you.

Dec 12, 2015 at 08:49 PM

vkendall
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Recommendations for a photography kayak?

elkhornsun wrote:
I have photographed from a variety of watercraft and by far the best was an inflatable boat with a hard floor. It is by far the most stable platform for shooting and it can be propelled with oars, electric trolling motor, or a small outboard. The best for wildlife photography is the electric trolling motor as I could sit motionless.

With a kayak the movement of the paddles will startle birds at Elkhorn Slough that I frequent. The Hobie kayak with pedal motion is much better and I can put a mini-blind over my legs.

Best way to gain stability is...Show more →

Do you have an inflatable you would recommend?

Thanks, Vella

Dec 12, 2015 at 09:59 PM

vkendall
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Recommendations for a photography kayak?

Dec 12, 2015 at 09:59 PM

juststeve
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Recommendations for a photography kayak?

I have reservations about using an inflatable as a photo platform, but it depends in part on where you live. I live along the Rocky Mountain Front in Montana. It is windy here. The water often has a little bit of chop on it, even early in the morning. With a sit-in kayak, your center of gravity is only a bit above the level of the water and the shape of a good kayak hull will smooth out much water surface chop giving you a stable platform to work from.

Inflatables tend to be wider still than a kayak and that will magnify any chop. There comes a point when even the best of image stabilizers will not cancel that sort of movement out. My experience here is with a 13.5 foot long inflatable Zodiak-type boat. This may be more than what others have suggested, but it is close to impossible to photograph well out of it when in wind and chop.

Now, if you are always on very calm water inflatables offer some real advantages. First among them is portability. Packing some models a mile or two is quite practical. They also draw very little water, even less than a hard shell kayak.

A variation of inflatables is in use around here by fishermen, fly fishermen in particular. They are made from two inflatable pontoons, connected by an aluminum framework with a seat added on. They can be quite light and paddle efficiently. The do share the problem of being unsteady on choppy water. That can be lessened by deflating the pontoons a bit so you ride lower in the water.

A person can propel themselves by kicking their legs while wearing fins, or by paddling. I adapted one to use an electric trolling motor. They are also easily adaptable to wearing a blind. They are not as good for covering long distances as a kayak. And if it gets really windy, you are more likely to go where the wind wants you to go, than in a kayak, where you can still go pretty much where you want to go in any wind. Currents can be a different matter.

Dec 13, 2015 at 11:42 AM

elkhornsun
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Recommendations for a photography kayak?

lighthawk wrote:
I've had good results with a Wilderness Pungo, which has a sit inside cockpit.
If you want dry gear, you do not want a sit on top. I went with Wilderness because the seats offer good support and are adjustable.

I use a small waterproof NF duffel with a padded insert from one of my Lowe camera backpacks.
The 7D + 400 fits perfectly. When the wind comes up and I get splashes over the bow, I can just zip the duffel shut and I'm basically splash-proof. I also zip up for take offs and landings if conditions aren't ideal.

Where I take my kayaks it is salt water and it is nearly impossible to keep the salt water off ones hands while paddling around. I don't like the thought of transferring saltwater from my hands to my camera and lens. For underwater photography the kayak was not a problem as my camera and lens were inside a waterproof housing and protected.

On still water I can let the kayak drift or drop and anchor but out on the ocean or a bay it is a very different story. If I am taking pictures with a paddle type kayak I would constantly have to put away the camera and the grab the paddle and get back into position and then get the camera and shoot again for a short amount of time. I spent more time retrieving and putting away the camera and paddling into position than I did shooting. The Hobie fixed that for the most part as I can pedal against the current or wind and stay into position while my hands are completely free.

Another foot propelled kayak from Native Watercraft uses a pedal powered rotating prop. The advantage of this design is that one can pedal backwards to move away from a subject one is drifting into or to maintain position when the wind or current is coming from behind the kayak.

Sit-in types in general will rock a great deal more than the side on type as the latter are often made for use by people as a fishing platform and stability is more important than speed on small bodies of water or on rivers.

There are very short row boats made for duck hunting that would also be a good choice. They are short so they can slide into the bed of a pickup truck which also makes them easier to store as well as transport. They are designed to be stable even when standing and shooting and so should work well with a hand held camera or one mounted on a tripod.

Important with whatever you get to consider how you will transport it and how you will get it to the water and how and where you will store it.

The electric trolling motor is a good accessory and some are made specifically for kayaks and lots of people have adapted small boat ones for use on their kayaks. Lots of information on kayak fishing websites. Batteries can be lithium-ion or the much less expensive sealed lead acid type with weights still in the 8 to 12 lb range.

Place that sells kits and complete trolling motor systems and remote controls is this company:

http://www.islandhopperoutboards.com

The advantage of a small inflatable or mini jon boat is that it can be shared by two people. Not difficult to create a homemade blind so you are able to get much closer to animals or have them come to you. The same techniques used by duck hunters work well for photographers.

Dec 13, 2015 at 05:28 PM

Adam Strochak
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Recommendations for a photography kayak?

I shoot shore birds from a sit-on-top sea kayak, but it's a real challenge and I once dunked a Canon 40D. . .with the expected result. . .a dead 40D. I have never actually tried one, but since seeing it in a store I've thought a pedal drive fishing kayak with a rudder would be great for photography. . .no paddles to get in the way and freedom to keep hands dry and on the camera gear. Check it out here: http://www.hobiecat.com/mirage/mirage-pro-angler-12/

Dec 13, 2015 at 09:57 PM

PeeDeeDD
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Recommendations for a photography kayak?

One thing to note for those that go the electric trolling motor route...most states require that you register your boat once you add any sort of powered motor including electric powered motors. Self propelled pedal motors (like on the Native Propels and Hobies) are excluded. Check with your state Dept of boating to get the details. I have also noticed that once they require registration, you also get taxed for them.

Dec 17, 2015 at 06:09 PM

surfnron
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Recommendations for a photography kayak?

Adam Strochak wrote:
I shoot shore birds from a sit-on-top sea kayak, but it's a real challenge and I once dunked a Canon 40D. . .with the expected result. . .a dead 40D. I have never actually tried one, but since seeing it in a store I've thought a pedal drive fishing kayak with a rudder would be great for photography. . .no paddles to get in the way and freedom to keep hands dry and on the camera gear. Check it out here: http://www.hobiecat.com/mirage/mirage-pro-angler-12/

Every time you look at a new kayak it's important to check the weight. The Hobiecat weighs over 100 lbs. I wouldn't want to put that on top of a car by myself ~ Ron

Dec 17, 2015 at 08:49 PM

mmarconi
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Recommendations for a photography kayak?

Some great advice above.

I shoot from a kayak a lot also. I use a Pungo, Tsunami and Zephry (sea kayak) all from Wilderness Systems. My recommendation for a stable sit inside kayak for a beginner would be the Pungo.

I would look for a kayak with either a tunnel or hard chime hull design, they tend to be the most stable.

If you have any distance to paddle to get to your photography destination I would look at something in the 12 to 14 foot range. Many 10 kayaks paddle like a barge and it will quickly become tiresome if you have to cover any distance.

As others have said craigslist is your best bet and don't skimp to much on the paddle, get a quality lightweight version, you'll be using it a lot.

Mike

Dec 17, 2015 at 09:58 PM

Longleaf
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Recommendations for a photography kayak?

I own a Santee 116 by Hurricane Aquasports and shoot from it quite often in coastal bays, rivers, and lakes. It is lightweight (36.5 lbs), has a large cockpit for easy access of gear, has a comfortable and adjustable seat and backrest, tracks well, is highly maneuverable, and is stable. I highly recommend it.
My advice before buying is to find a place that rents kayaks and try out different models for yourself.

Dec 20, 2015 at 05:14 PM

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